AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, this week announced that Maëlys Castella, CFO and a member of the AkzoNobel Board of Management, will step down due to health reasons. Castella is currently on a leave of absence.

 

Following an anticipated recovery, Maëlys is expected to return to AkzoNobel in a senior management role.

 

The company has announced current Group Controller Hans De Vriese as interim CFO, while initiating a full internal, and external search for a permanent replacement.

 

De Vriese joined AkzoNobel in 2009, initially as corporate director control, before taking over as group controller in 2015. Prior to joining AkzoNobel, De Vriese held a number of senior finance roles at General Motors, including CFO, Asia Pacific.

 

Antony Burgmans, chairman of the supervisory board, said that "it is with regret that today we have to announce Maëlys is now on a leave of absence due to health reasons. We wish her well and look forward to welcoming her back once she has fully recovered."

 

Thierry Vanlancker, CEO, added that "Maëlys has been an integral part of establishing the solid financial foundation and culture of operational excellence that AkzoNobel now has in place. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to having her back on our team once fully recovered.

 

"In Hans De Vriese, we have an extremely capable executive with extensive experience, who will ensure continuity at this time as we embark on a full internal and external search for a permanent replacement," Vanlancker noted.